What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientHydrogenated Polydecene
EmollientNiacinamide
Smoothing
Dimethicone
Emollient
Cetearyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate Se
Emulsifying
Methylpropanediol
SolventPolyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate
Emulsifying
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Palmitic Acid
Emollient
Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer
Skin Conditioning
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Arginine
Masking
Carbomer
Emulsion StabilisingBetaine
Humectant
Wine Extract
Antioxidant
Carica Papaya Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningCitrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract
Skin ConditioningXanthan Gum
EmulsifyingAdenosine
Skin Conditioning
Parfum
Masking
Disodium EDTA
Tocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
1,2-Hexanediol
Skin Conditioning
Myristic Acid
Cleansing
Arachidic Acid
Cleansing
Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract
Skin ConditioningGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract
Skin ConditioningPhellinus Linteus Extract
Skin ConditioningMorus Alba Bark Extract
Skin ConditioningSophora Flavescens Root Extract
Antioxidant
Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract
Antimicrobial
Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract
Skin Conditioning
Angelica Gigas Root Extract
Skin ConditioningScutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract
Astringent
Oleic Acid
Emollient
Salix Alba Bark Extract
Astringent
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningWater, Glycerin, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Butylene Glycol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Hydrogenated Polydecene, Niacinamide, Dimethicone, Cetearyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Stearate Se, Methylpropanediol, Polyglyceryl-3 Methylglucose Distearate, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Palmitic Acid, Dimethicone/Vinyl Dimethicone Crosspolymer, Stearic Acid, Arginine, Carbomer, Betaine, Wine Extract, Carica Papaya Fruit Extract, Citrus Aurantifolia Fruit Extract, Xanthan Gum, Adenosine, Parfum, Disodium EDTA, Tocopheryl Acetate, 1,2-Hexanediol, Myristic Acid, Arachidic Acid, Paeonia Lactiflora Root Extract, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Polygonum Multiflorum Root Extract, Phellinus Linteus Extract, Morus Alba Bark Extract, Sophora Flavescens Root Extract, Cimicifuga Racemosa Root Extract, Sesamum Indicum Seed Extract, Angelica Gigas Root Extract, Scutellaria Baicalensis Root Extract, Oleic Acid, Salix Alba Bark Extract, Ethylhexylglycerin
Water
Skin ConditioningCoco-Caprylate
Emollient
Urea
Buffering
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Bacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Cetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Dalea Spinosa Seed Oil
Masking
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate
Emollient
Stearic Acid
Cleansing
Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil
Emollient
Oryza Sativa Bran Oil
Emollient
Hexylresorcinol
Antimicrobial
Glycerin
Humectant
Sodium Anisate
AntimicrobialSodium Levulinate
Skin ConditioningSodium Ascorbyl Phosphate
Antioxidant
Lactic Acid
Buffering
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientPolyglyceryl-6 Behenate
Emulsion Stabilising
Gellan Gum
Ferulic Acid
Antimicrobial
Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract
Bleaching
Sodium Phytate
Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract
Masking
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingCitric Acid
Buffering
Potassium Sorbate
Preservative
Water, Coco-Caprylate, Urea, Glyceryl Stearate, Bacillus Ferment, Cetyl Alcohol, Dalea Spinosa Seed Oil, Tocopherol, Polyglyceryl-6 Stearate, Stearic Acid, Simmondsia Chinensis Seed Oil, Oryza Sativa Bran Oil, Hexylresorcinol, Glycerin, Sodium Anisate, Sodium Levulinate, Sodium Ascorbyl Phosphate, Lactic Acid, Glyceryl Caprylate, Polyglyceryl-6 Behenate, Gellan Gum, Ferulic Acid, Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract, Sodium Phytate, Chamomilla Recutita Flower Extract, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid, Potassium Sorbate
Reviews
Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinGlycyrrhiza Glabra Root Extract is an extract of the roots of Licorice. It has been found to have several benefits such as skin hydrating, conditioning, and soothing.
One component, glabridin, has extra potent antioxidant and soothing properties. It has also been found to block pigmentation from UVB rays in guinea pigs.
Licorice Root also contains a flavonoid. Flavonoids are a natural substance from in plants. Flavonoids also have antioxidant properties.
Another component, glycyrrhizin, has been found to have anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial benefits. This may make licorice root extract effective at treating acne. However, more research is needed to support this.
Liquiritin is one of the flavone compounds found in licorice. It has been found to help lighten skin by preventing tyrosinase from reacting with tyrosine. When the two react, protein is converted to melanin. Melanin is the substance in your body that gives your features pigmentation.
Learn more about Glycyrrhiza Glabra Root ExtractStearic Acid is a fatty acid that is already found in your skin. It's one of the free fatty acids that works alongside ceramides and cholesterols to maintain your barrier.
In cosmetics, it is a multitasker:
Safety-wise, the CIR Expert Panel has concluded it to be safe in cosmetics when formulated to be non-irritating and non-sensitizing.
Free stearic acid is a C18 fatty acid that the Malassezia yeast can substrate, so this ingredient may not be fungal acne safe.
Learn more about Stearic AcidWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about WaterXanthan gum is used as a stabilizer and thickener within cosmetic products. It helps give products a sticky, thick feeling - preventing them from being too runny.
On the technical side of things, xanthan gum is a polysaccharide - a combination consisting of multiple sugar molecules bonded together.
Xanthan gum is a pretty common and great ingredient. It is a natural, non-toxic, non-irritating ingredient that is also commonly used in food products.
Learn more about Xanthan Gum
